Korean J Obes.  2005 Sep;14(3):178-185.

Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

• Park JH
• Song HJ
• Choun JK
• Cho JJ
• Paek YJ
• Park KH
• Kim A
• Lee PR
• Hwang JY

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is 2~3% in Korean women and GDM is known as a risk factor of type 2 DM. The effects of pregestational weight and also the impact of weight change during gestational period on GDM were studied in addition to the risk factors of GDM .
METHODS
Subjects involved 266 pregnant women, in their twenties to forties, who visited the Obstetrics and Gynecologic clinic in a university hospital for prenatal care from January 2000 to December 2002. The GDM group consisted of 91 women, who were confirmed by 100g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and the control group consisted of 175 women. Clinical characteristics and obstetric histories of the subjects were assessed and analyzed each time during pregestation period, first visit, screening test period and final test period.
RESULTS
The mean age of participants in the GDM group was 32.6 +/- 4.1 and that of the control group was 32.3 +/- 4.2. The mean pregestational body mass index (BMI) was statistically higher (22.7 +/- 3.6 kg/m2) among the GDM group compared to the control group (20.3 +/- 2.2 kg/m2). Other statistically significant factors were glucosuria (P < 0.001), family history of DM (P < 0.001), past history of GDM (P < 0.001), pregnancy induced hypertension (P = 0.034), previously delivered baby's weight (P = 0.018). According to the multivariate analysis, those with family history of DM (OR = 5.016), high pregestational BMI (OR = 4.811 (overweight), 16.196 (obesity)), and glucosuria (OR = 57.160) showed statistically significant association with GDM.
CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that high pregestational BMI is a significant risk factor of GDM in Korean women. The risk of GDM may be prevented by pregestational weight control.

Keyword

Gestational diabetes mellitus; Risk factors; Body mass index (BMI)

MeSH Terms

Body Mass Index
Diabetes, Gestational*
Female
Glucose Tolerance Test
Humans
Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced
Mass Screening
Multivariate Analysis
Obstetrics
Pregnancy
Pregnant Women
Prenatal Care
Prevalence
Risk Factors*